The EON Mini

One of my specialties is implantation of the EON Mini, a neurostimulator that has changed the lives of many since its debut in 2008.  As the world’s smallest spinal cord stimulator (SCS) battery, the EON Mini is an implantable pulse generator (IPG) about the size of a silver dollar.

In very basic terms, the purpose of a spinal cord stimulator is to send electrical signals to the spinal cord.  These electrical pulses disrupt the transmission of signals from the spinal cord to the brain and thus reduce chronic back symtomology.  This reduction of discomfort most often leads to accelerated spinal rehabilitation and a decrease in the need for medications.

The first EON Mini was tested less than two years ago at St. Jude Medical in St. Paul, Minnesota.  The device was implanted into Adam Hammond, a former member of the U.S. Army “Golden Knights” Parachute Team.  In 2006, Hammond impacted the ground at more than 45 miles an hour when his parachute didn’t deploy correctly.  Among his injuries were a broken femur, shattered pelvis, and severed spine.

Having undergone two subsequent years of surgery, the resulting agony was crippling. Hammond’s rehabilitation rate jumped significantly after the EON Mini implant, resulting in much more mobility and allowing him to begin a return to life as it should be.

The EON Mini is my professional choice for many reasons.  Because of its small size, it requires the smallest implant incision of any IPG.  It’s also the only rechargeable SCS to receive a 10-year battery life approval by the FDA.  Together, this means fast recovery time, fewer battery replacement surgeries, and accordingly a faster return to healthy and physically comfortable life.

Please feel free to provide feedback and ask questions about the EON Mini.

Best Regards,
Kevin D. Cairns, M.D.